Adjustable wheel and axle assembly for variable tread vehicles



May 5, 1953 'r. BROWN ErAL 2,637,598 ADJUSTABLE WHEEL AND ma ASSEMBLY FOR VARIABLE TREAD VEHICLES Filqd Now 12, 1949 I IN V EN TORS TH EOPHILUS BROWN a GE RGE ICKES ATTORNEY Patented May 5, 1953 ADJUSTABLE WHEEL AND AXLE ASSEMBLY non ARI B TREAD VEHICLES Themphilllt ass orn and George Ickes, Moline, 111., t w e & G mntnn M lina 1 1- e FQlPP Q QIF 2? H 129 I m I An it nl ovember 2, 1M3, vS ain! N0; $5 856 l9 9 1} This invention relates to a wheel assembly 311$? more particularly to such assembly for use obtaining wheel tread variation in agricul; re;l tractors or like vehicles.

A typical agricultural tractor has a longitllqir nal body provided with a pair of transversely extending axle housings, one on each side of body, from each of which extends an elongated axle having an outer end disposed in spaced relation to the proximate side of the body. Each axle carries thereon a relatively large trac Lion Wheel. In view of the fact that a tractor of this type used for a large number of farm,- ing' operations, nrovislon is made tor lateral ad.-

iust loility of the traction wheels so that the 3.

tread or lateral spacing therebotween may no varied. For example, in plowing, the traction WheflS should be set relatively close. together,

whereas in cultivating, the Wheels should lbexfilar tively Widely spaced. "For this punpose, the con-- in any ob i u$ modificat ons t e eo tr ad cpmpn'sneo powerderived from th ft 9 31 9 l fi by Q1? X i delivied through thediiierentjaf'to bil axl 3?" I e ract r brak e p ie'd to the ot'lierf' oifalte'rnatively, the tractor "1.1 233 be en .fOlYV3rI'dly.lVil'/h.,the locking means released 'i'ndaifl so that the tw ay g normal operation; .1;

h' ihe Wh constrained .for rotation Withithe axles.

" tt +fll os t ond above a is involved in jde sigrif gall M I ercia'lly acceptablelocking ens or e easia l g ci r e v e 'wqeelit e axle. n'theUf'SI Patent 2,472;742"t0" Brown, there is disclosed and claimed one term ojlock involving a thre ade'd'lfillb bl tlieiwheel ened or tightened to facilitate axial shitting pf the wheels relative to the axles.

' in tine conventional tractor, shitting of .the wiicels to obtain tread variation :is an .onctcus taskat best, since .thewheels arcfneavy andn fitcll become trozen to the axles.

'liout materially increasing the length Hence, the wheel .mayiloe ,reversed on the axle to accomplish tread iv'eriation hinacertain range and the-tire may reversed on tile-wheel bodytoaccompliShdurther tread variation in another range. 'The comfor. 1011 of reversibility of-the-vql eel components and slidability of the Wheel on-tl e axle has here'- tofore given acceptable results. Nevertheless, there is considerable room for impronoment the design and-arrangement outlined above.

es an expedient'in facilitating'the adjustment oil tractor Wheels tor the 'pnrposes indicated, there have been heretofore proposed screwthreaded connections between the tractor wheels the tractor, such as in-U. S.-Patent-l; 967 ,283

toBr-own. A further; improvement; in whicli tl e threaded connection is provided ;between the he l and sal i c ewe i th B Further, iinclider it c l tively wide tread variation may :be

.40 e e s airm the T 4 '1 W l ,vvelntion isLmadein-the iollowinsldescrint 2,099,194-to Brown. In either of these instances, r555. accompanying. sheet of; drawings jn wh lgh glthe j axie', one or ;t it la ,spllr'ie for ke'yway" there n wenk yjintheaxle'. "rn jliiib a 7 with locl; a radi par ble', they jn'iaylje "removedfifr n one side' of the: wheel and replaced" at the other I r aylj e'arrangc.dat 1 tl8 .@f;t1l wh eel wloen the Wheel. is' closev to, tlie ttljactor odyandat t l e inside of the Wheel when fille wl eelris at the onter end of the axle ti emote from the tractor body. I i

545 ,Another object .of 11 16.inyentionistoprovide dockinemeahsthat areusiniple in design and construction. and thatinay be easily used and readily adapted .to existing" wlieels of certain ,-k11ownl.tynes. 4'

50 ll he. foregoingand. other important obj gets and d'esirable features inherent and enoornpas tneinoention. willibecomeapparent a. .;-d isclosure;.of,anpreierred embodiment of tl e in- Figure 1 is a plan view of the rear portion of a tractor showing in full lines a narrow tread disposition of the wheels and in dotted lines a wide tread disposition of the wheels;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of one of the wheels, partly in section, showing it in its narrow tread position;

Figure 3 is a similar view showing one of the wheels in its wide tread position;

Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views of one of the segmental locking members;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary face view, partly in section as viewed along the line 6-6 of Figure 2; and

Figure 7 is a face view, partly in section as viewed along the line l'! of Figure 2.

The tractor chosen for the purposes of illustration has a longitudinal body 10 provided with opposite, transversely outwardly extending axle housings [2 within each of which is journaled an elongated, rotatable, externally threaded axle 14. Each axle is relatively long so that its outer end is somewhat remote from the proximate side of the body 10. A conventional stop 16 may be provided at its outer end for purposes to presently appear.

The tractor is provided with a pair of traction wheels l8 which are carried respectively on the axles [4. Since the wheels are identical, only one will be described.

Each wheel comprises a central wheel body 23 surrounded by a rim 22 which may carry a pneumatic tire 24. The wheel body is dished so that it has a mounting portion 26 axially offset with respect to the median plane of the tire and Each wheel includes a hub 28 which has a centrally apertured, internally threaded opening 33 to provide a bearing surface or area by means of I which the hub may at times be rotated relative to the axle I4. The internal threads at 30 mate with the external threads of the axle so that retation of the wheel selectively in one direction or the other effects axial movement of the hub toward or away from the outer end of the axle.

the wheel relative to the axle would not be incident to rotation of the wheel relative to the axle.

In either case, as will be hereinafter brought out,

the principles of the present invention apply.

The hub 30 has an external radial flange 32 which provides means for cooperation with the wheel body portion 23 to carry the wheel IS. A plurality of bolts 34 may be used to interconnect the portions 26 and 32. The hub further has an inner radial mounting face 36 and. an outer mounting face 38. spaced bolt holes or tapped bores 40 is provided on a circle about the axis of the hub. These bolt holes open or are available at both radial faces 36 and 38.

The axle I4 is preferably provided with a pair of diametrically opposed external keyways or splines 42 running lengthwise thereof. The hub is not splined and, as stated above, is at times freely rotatable relative to the axle l4. In those instances in which the axle and hub are respectively externally and internally threaded, axial adjustment of the wheel on the axle may be effected by rotating the wheel, thus effecting axial propulsion of the wheel in one direction or the other, depending upon the directionof rotation A plurality of angularly:

4 of the wheel. Whether relative rotation between the wheel and axle is accomplished manually or by power of the tractor is immaterial in the present case.

The improved means provided by the present invention for the purpose of locking the whee l8 to the axle 14 so that the two are constrained for rotation together comprises, in its preferred embodiment, a group-here a pair-of complementary segmental members 44. Since these members are preferably identical, only one will be described. Two different views of one of the members appear in Figures 4 and 5. Figure 7 illustrates the assembled relationship of the members 44 when disposed to embrace the axle l4, each member being internally arcuate in form as at 46 to surround or receive the axle. The interior surface at is smooth and unthreaded and is interrupted only by the provision of means providing a longitudinal key 48. This key fits and is slidable lengthwise in one of the keyways 42 in the axle I4. When the members 44 are assembled as in Figure 7, the keys 48 are diametrically opposed and thus are respectively received in the diametrically opposed keyways 42.

Each member 44 is provided at one end thereof with a radial portion 50, and these portions, when the members are assembled about the axle, provide a radial face adapted selectively to abut either of the radial mounting faces 36 or 38 of the hub 28. Each radial portion 50 is provided with a plurality of angularly spaced bolt holes 52 on such circle and of such angular spacing as to be registrable with the circle of bolt holes 40 in the hub 28. Since the members 44 are radially separable with respect to each other and with respect to the axle [4, they may be installed on the axle at either side of the hub 28, with the radial face provided by the portion 50 in abutting relationship selectively to either the radial mounting face 36 or the radial mounting face 38 of the hub. Each member 44 is provided with a plurality of bolt holes 54 which receive a plurality of bolts 56 (Figure 1), which bolts serve as means for securely though releasably clamping the members 44 together about the axle l4.

The registered bolt holes 43 and 52 receive a plurality of bolts 58 for rigidly though releasably securing the members 44 to one or the other of the hub faces 36 or 38, depending upon the position of the wheel. That is to say, when the wheel is in the position shown in Figure 2, the members 44 are secured to the outer mounting face 38. The members are secured to the inner mounting face 36 when the wheel is in the position of Figure 3.

As best shown in Figure 6, the radial face 38 may be provided with a plurality of diametrically alined drive portions 60 which are here shown as radial recesses. The opposite flange 36 may be similarly constructed. Each of the members 44 has thereon a radial drive portion in the form of a lug 62. When the members are assembled as in Figure '7, the lugs 62 are diametrically alined, and the arrangement is such that the lugs 62 interfit with or are received by a selected pair of diametrically alined recesses or portions 60 in whichever flange the members 44 are associated with. These drive portions function to take the strain off the securing means comprising the plurality of bolts 58.

The key 42 in each member 44 may be integrally formed with the body of the member or may be separately constructed and secured to the member. This is a matter of choice and theretars not been i lnstrattdi 1.: described. in da- Inasmuch as the locki g mem s *4 ar uositiona ia at eithe id of he; ub." 8*. the wheelmay' be adjusted through a maximum range without requ ri t e i'sv'e 'biiit'y' ereo n Figure 2;,0116, Wheel [18] is as clos'e to the end of the 1. h usin IJZ. asi nec ssa v'for p owin operatim or a n'lav I th n n; mber's44,'are outside the hub- 2'8;. It will be readily seen that. if the membe s er permanently: cal s .ed to the wheel b dy 1, t m -r wquld'ibe ob a if d Ytt, th e m in n tion, of" the members E4 to? the wheel body 20 w .lmiake.itiinnqssible to achieve the position of. .igure iilsinoe the increase intread variation m m a diminished by' the; length of the memhers since these; members: would. occupy the outermost, portion of the axle; However; since th s, members 4!" maybe radi'ally'separated from theaxleaud axially sena ate fromthe hubit y be;v reassembled at the inside of the wheel,

out; departing from, the. spirit; and, scope of" the invention aa defined in the, appended claims:

W at; is; claimedlis Linn, adjustable wheel and; axle assemblyfor use; in; obtaining wheel, tread variation inj. agricultural; tractors and like vehicles comprising; ans-elongated; externally threadedaxle. havingan outer end; and-provided with, an,.external;keyway running: lengthwise, thereof,. to a said end; and" n:- tersecting; the threads; a, wheel. on. the axle, 111+ eluding a hub having a central opening. provided with internal: threads mating with the external thrads-zoi a ax a; so vthat rotation of rue; wheel andlhuhrselectively in one; direction or the other rlativa to. tha axle iefiectsi axial adjustment, of the wheel and; hub; respectively towardv or away from the outer-end 4 of the, axle, said, hub. having inner and; outer radial faces and further having a l circle, oi, angular l ly spaced. bolt holes. therethroughiopeningi atisaidiiaces; a pair. of coin: plementary; radially; separable members. oi, 1n tern-ally regressed-form;tde-mbraccthe axle ad? jacenti the hub;at; either; side of, thelhub, at least one; of? said; members having. an internal key fitting; and ;slidable;;leng;thwise in; the axle keywan; said imemberslhaving radial. portions which, whenlthamembersare assembledto embrace the axlcallliflvide' a; radial; face adaptedto, abut see lectively either theinner or; outerradialface of the hub said radial. portions,- ot. the members ded withibolt holes on a. circle, and sangulafly as to be reEiStrabIQVWiththe oles-1 ini th 'hu r l asable means con:- nect batweem the, members, for, securely thdugh; removabl-ir clamping, the, members: to,- her-axle to constrain :the 1 members i atiOn-v ossth n; ncilalplurauty eirabla y ha esls r d lfllil l s To rigidlx thou hremoyahligsecuringjhe .mems bars selectively to, either; radial facet ofithe hub.

2. The invention defined in claim '1', further 6. characterized in' that? there- 1s a second sway in the axle diarmetricallyopposed to the first key- Way; and the" other of the pair of members has a key fitting the second keyway.

3. The invention defined in claim further characterized in that: each radial face of the hub is provided with a: pair of diametrically ali'ned drive portions; and each of the members has a drive portion on its radial portion, said member drive portions being oliametri-cetll"; alinecl when the members" are assembled about the axle and interfittingly engageable' with the hub drive portionsat' the" selected radial face:

An adjustable wheel and axle assembly for use" in obtaining: wheel tread variation in agricultural tractors and like vehicles; comprising: an elongated axle having an outer end and provided? with an external keywayrunning length- Wise' thereof to said end; a wheel on the axl in"- cludi-ng a hub having a central opening providing a bearing surface on the axle so that the wheel and hub may at times berrotated' relative to the axle, said hub having inneran'd cuter raidi'al faces and further having a circle of angul'arly' spaced bolt holes th'erethrou'gh opening, at said faces; a pair of complementary, radially separable members of internally recessed form to embrace the axle adjacent the hub at either side) of the hub", atleast. one of. said members having an internal key fittingandfslidable lengthwise in' the axle keyway; said" members. having radial portions which; when the members are assembled to embrace the; axle, provide a radial face adapted? to abut selectively either the; inner or" outer radialfacc of the hub,,,said' radial per:- tions of the members being" provided with belt holes on a circle and so spaced" angularly as to be registrable" with the bolt holes in the hub; rei leasable means, connectable' between the members for: securely though reniova'bly, clamping the" members together about the axle to constrain: the members and axle for rotation to;- gether; and a, plurality ofbolts' receivable. by the registered' bolt holes for. rigidly though. removably' securingthe members selectively to. either radial face of the hub'..

51 An adjustable wheel and axle assembly for use in obtaining wheeli tread variation in agri; cultural tractors and likevehicles, comprising; an elongated externallyj-tlireadedaxle havingan outerend' and provided with an external kexway running" lengthwise thereof: to said end and in.- terseicting the threads;;a wheel on the axle, includinga hub having a central openingprovided with internal'threads. mating with the. external threads: of the axle, so that. rotaticnrof the wheel and: hub selectively intone clirectipn or the. other relative to the axle effects axialradjustment of the wheel and hub respectively toward or. away from the outer end or the axle, said hub having inner and outer, radial .mounting faces; a group of complementary, I radially; separable; members of'internallyj recessed form to. embrace the axle adjacentv the" hub" at either side. of. thev hub, at 1east" one of said membersrliaving an internal key-fitting anolslidable lengthwise in thev axle keyway, said" members, having, radial portions which, whenzthe members, are assembled to; embrace the axle, provid.e a radial mounting face adaptedflto' abut selectively. either therinner. or outer radial; :E'acav of: the hub.;-.fre-l'easabla means connectable between, the, members for securely thought removably; clamuingt thav members. to-- gather. about .tlie.;axl'e. t'o, constrain theamembers andaxle for rotation together; and second releasable means connectable between the members and the hub for rigidly though removably securing the members selectively to either radial face of the hub.

6. An adjustable wheel and axle assembly for use in obtaining wheel tread variation in agricultural tractors and like vehicles, comprising: an elongated axle having an outer end and provided with an external keyway running lengthwise thereof to said end; a Wheel on the axle, including a hub having a central opening providing a bearing surface on the axle so that the wheel and hub may at times be rotated relative ,to the axle, said hub having inner and outer radial mounting faces; a group of complementary, radially separable members of internally recessed form to embrace the axle adjacent the hub at either side of the hub, at least one of said members having an internal key fitting and slidable lengthwise in the axle keyway, said members having radial portions which, when the members are assembled to embrace the axle, provide a radial mounting face adapted to abut selectively either the inner or outer radial face of the hub; releasable means connectible between the members for securely though removably clamping the members together about the axle to constrain the members and axle for rotation together; and second releasable means connectible between the members and the hub for rigidly though removably securing the members selectively to either radial face of the hub.

7. For use with an agricultural tractor or like vehicle having a longitudinal body provided with a transverse, elongated, externally threaded axle which has an outer end spaced from the body and which further has an external keyway running lengthwise thereof: a wheel hub assembly, comprising a hub member having external means thereon for carrying a wheel and further having a central opening provided with internal threads complementary to the axle threads so that the hub may be rotated on the axle to effect axial movement of the hub selectively toward or away from the outer end of the axle, said hub having inner and outer radial mounting faces apart from the aforesaid wheel-carrying means and further having a circle of angularly spaced bolt holes therethrough opening at said faces; a pair of complementary, radially separable members of internally recessed form positionable selectively at either mounting face of the hub and constructed to embrace the axle, at least one of said members having an internal key receivable by and slidable lengthwise in the axle keyway, said members having radial portions which, when the members are assembled to embrace the axle, provide a radial face adapted to abut selectively either the inner or outer radial face of the hub, said radial portions of the members being provided with bolt holes on a circle and so spaced angularly as to be registrable with the bolt holes in the hub; releasable means for securely though removably clamping the members together about the axle to constrain the members and axle for rotation together; and a plurality of bolts reend spaced from the body and which further has an external keyway running lengthwise thereof a, wheel hub assembly, comprising a hub member havingexternal means thereon for carrying a wheel and further having a central opening providing a bearing surface by means of which the hub may be rotatably mounted on and axially shiftable relative to the axle selectively toward or away from the outer end of the axle, said hub having inner and outer radial mounting faces apart from the aforesaid wheel-carrying means and further having a circle of angularly spaced bolt holes therethrough opening at said faces; a pair of complementary, radially separable members of internally recessed form positionable selectively at either mounting face of the hub and constructed to embrace the axle, at least one of said members having an internal key receivable by and slidable lengthwise in the axle keyway, said members having radial portions which, when the members are assembled to embrace the axle, provide a radial face adapted to abut selectively either the inner or outer radial face of the hub, said radial portions of the members being provided with bolt holes on a circle and so spaced angularly as to be registrable with the bolt holes in the hub; releasable means cooperative between the members for securely though removably clamping the members together about the axle to constrain the members and axle for rotation together; and a plurality of bolts receivable by the registered bolt holes for rigidly though removably securing the members selectively to either radial face of the hub.

9. For use with an agricultural tractor or like vehicle having a longitudinal body provided with a transverse, elongated, externally threaded axle which has an outer end spaced from the body and which further has an external keyway running lengthwise thereof: a wheel hub assembly, comprising a hub member having external means thereon for carrying a wheel and further having a central opening provided with internal threads complementary to the axle threads so that the hub may be rotated on the axle to effect axial movement of the hub selectively toward or away from the outer end of the axle, said hub having inner and outer radial mounting faces apart from the aforesaid wheel-carrying means; a pair of complementary, radially separable members of internally recessed form positionable selectively at either mounting face of the hub and constructed to embrace the axle, at least one of said members having an internal key receivable by and slidable lengthwise in the axle keyway, said members having radial portions which, when the members are assembled to embrace the axle, provide a radial mounting face adapted to abut selectively either the inner or outer radial face of the hub; releasable means connectible between the members for securely though removably clamping the members together about the axle to constrain the members and axle for rotation together; and second releasable means connectible between the members and the hub for rigidly though removably securing the members selectively to either radial face of the hub.

10. For use with an agricultural tractor or like vehicle having a longitudinal body provided with a transverse, elongated axle which has an outer end spaced from the body and which further has an external keyway running lengthwise thereof: a wheel hub assembly, comprising a hub member having means thereon for carrying a wheel and further having a central opening providing a bearing surface by means of which the hub may be rotatably mounted on and axially shiftable relative to the axle selectively toward or away from the outer end of the axle, said hub having inner and outer radial mounting faces apart from the aforesaid wheel-carrying means; a pair of complementary, radially separable members of internally recessed form positionable selectively at either mounting face of the hub and constructed to embrace the axle, at least one of said members having an internal key receivable by and slidable lengthwise in the axle keyway, said members having radial portions which, when the members are assembled to embrace the axle, provide a radial mounting face adapted to abut selectively either the inner or outer radial face of the hub; releasable means connectible between the members for securely though removably clamping the members together about the axle to constrain the members and axle for rotation together; and second releasable means 19 connectible between the members and the hub for rigidly though removably securing the members selectively to either radial face of the hub. 

